2009.08.17
Webb's mission to Myanmar
Tuesday, we'll write about Sen. Jim Webb's private mission to Myanmar, where he met with the leader of the country's military regime and secured the release of an American it had sentenced last week to seven years in prison. It's unclear whether Webb gained any ground toward his larger objective, to advance democratic reforms by acting as a bridge between that country and the U.S. Critics fear his trip did more harm than good for the cause of democracy; but then, as Webb argues, years of sanctions have succeeded only in isolating Myanmar from the West and increasing its economic ties to China.
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I wonder if they made him eat a bug in order to release the hostage. Forget human rights. We want access to cheap labor.
Comment by Henry — August 17, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
RT,
You already ran an article in the Sunday RT and again in today newspaper about Webb securing this release. Enough of it already. Webb is a sexist glory hound and while I realize the RTEB has a "man crush" on him give it a break.
There is other news going on out there.....
Comment by Bob H — August 17, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
I don't even blame you, I join that crush myself. Pretty impressive man.
Sexist? Compared to whom would be the question IMO?
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 17, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Just read the stuff he wrote on the subject of women serving in the military Sandi. See if that agrees with your view of sexism (unless your denintion chanhes depending on who is doing it).
I know the RT likes carrying his water which meant virtual silence during his aide's "gun in the airport" episode (which should have been strongly condemned but the RT ain't going to write anything negative about Webb).
I guess Casey will need to write an article on this too.
Barney's gun went off again last night, I guess that was news too.....
Comment by Bob H — August 17, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
Your insult hurts Bob H, my definitions do not change depending on the side doing something (Kind of like how our protesters were anti-American and yours are patriots? Like that, you mean?). Men of his generation and experience feel strongly about the role of women in combat and frankly I do not find that to be nearly as sexist as you do. I was not a supporter of VMI going co-ed either. I think there are roles for all people who want to serve their country and get an education and I think there is a definite place for same sex education and combat roles being strictly scrutinized. I guess I am sexist too.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 17, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
Webb is a Senator from Virginia. Why WOULDN'T the paper report on what he was doing? If they didn't, you'd complain they were covering up for him (see the gun thing). It's hardly water-carrying to report on semi-local politicians.
Comment by Kristen — August 17, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Sandi,
I don't think you read what Webb has to say about that. His writings go way beyond whether women should serve in the military to more like they aren't even capable.
Here are a few quotes for you though:
"And I have never met a woman, including the dozens of female midshipmen I encountered during my recent semester as a professor at the Naval Academy, whom I would trust to provide those men with combat leadership.” (pg. 148, “Women Can’t Fight,” Washingtonian Magazine, November 1979)
What the whole world may not know is that women did not attain these positions in the same way that men historically have…Women will not be leading men inside the brigade this year. They will be managing them, buttressed by the officers who hurried them along. And the morale of the brigade will demonstrate this distinction far better than this article ever could.” (pg. 277, “Women Can’t Fight,” Washingtonian Magazine, November 1979)
Webb referred to female midshipman at Annapolis as “thunder thighs.” (Baltimore Sun, 8/28/92)
Webb "referred to the U.S. Naval Academy's dormitory as 'a horny woman's dream' with respect to female plebes."
How many more quotes do you want?
Does this guy sound liek someone who should be a Senator?
Comment by Bob H — August 17, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Kristen,
One report is sufficient. 2 on the same story plus an editorial is an overkill.
Allen only got that kind of press after he said the "M" word.....
Comment by Bob H — August 17, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
We happened to flip the channel to TVLand the other day when M.A.S.H. was on. It was an episode that had Colonel Flagg in it. Flagg, if you remember, is the squinting-eyed unstable uber-macho slightly dim Intelligence agent who drops in occasionally. After watching for a few minutes, my husband exlaimed "That's Jim Webb". I laughed my head off.
Comment by Suzie — August 17, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
OK, so we should not have held Macaca against George Allen, but we should hold 30 year old comments against Jim Webb? Come on Bob H, that is all so patently absurd as to be laughable if one did not know your stance on the Allen insult.
Thirty years ago, MOST men felt the way he did and many more spoke as he did and worse. You are reaching, pure and simple. I could just brush it off with well he was obviously a Republican then, but the truth is that his out of context quotes from 30 years ago is silly and deserves no rebuttal. Got anything he has said in the past 5-7 years even? Smart people change and evolve, it is called progress. More people should try it. If you think Jim Webb is the only or even the worst sexist in politics today, you are mistaken. I do not condone nor uphold his statements although I can readily see his point about actual combat and I think the Iraq and Afghanistan wars proved we are really not ready for that much "equality" as a country either. If you want to discuss his comments, we will have to delve into others as well, including El Flushbo, Pat Buchanan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and several others. This is pointless. Are you really that upset about our elected Senator getting some good press? I have never noticed sexism as your soapbox before. I am not really a fan of Webb, but I do find him impressive and this is silly IMO.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 17, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
One report is sufficient. 2 on the same story plus an editorial is an overkill.
Allen only got that kind of press after he said the "M" word.....
Comment by Bob H — August 17, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
Maybe that was the first time he did anything worth reporting.
Comment by Kristen — August 18, 2009 @ 7:26 am
Sandi,
Jim Webb was asked in the campaign to retract those comments and clarify and he did neither. He said his words stand on their own.
One of those is from 1992. Did you read them or did you see a way to explain your support of this sexist once you saw the 1979 date?
His views are those of a sexist and he has not repudiated them. He does not see women as equals.
yeah, I guess that makes him worthy of 2 articles on the same incident and an editorial too. Go ahead, RTEB, carry more of Webb's water for him.
Comment by Bob H — August 18, 2009 @ 7:38 am
Interesting how you can "forgive" Michael Vick and support his comeback and then turn around and disrespect a man for remarks of the time 30 and 17 years ago. What, Webb did not "do his time"? I think his service in Vietnam buys him some leniency on comments he made that long ago and I do not believe he views women as you are portraying. There are areas where men and women are not equal and I am comfortable with those differences enough to not consider him more sexist than so many of his contemporaries. You walk in your shoes, I walk in mine and I am not uncomfortable with Jim Webb nor worried over his (or frankly anyone else's) sexism. It is a fact of life for women and has been since we came to be.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 18, 2009 @ 8:23 am
Kristen,
Post 11. Yeah, I guess you are right. Allen was only a Congressman, Governor, and Senator. The "M" incident would have been the only thing worth reporting all the time he held those offices.
It was certainly the only thing Allen did that got repeated articles in the press, I will grant that.
Comment by Bob H — August 18, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Sandi,
Vick has repudiated his actions. Furthermore, Vick is not nor will ever likely be representing Virginia as a senator. Vick is a football player for crying out loud. Webb is a SENATOR!
If Webb repudiates his comments and asks for forgiveness and a second chance, yes, I can find forgiveness.
Let me know when that happens......
Comment by Bob H — August 18, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Already happened, Bob:
"I'm fully comfortable with the roles of women in the military today." He also said, "There's many pieces in this article that if I were a more mature individual I wouldn't have written."
Comment by Dan Radmacher — August 18, 2009 @ 8:39 am
Doesn't sound like much of an apology or repudiation to me. Just a non-specific dismissal.
Comment by Suzie — August 18, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Dan,
That is no repudiation. Where does he day he was WRONG? Where does he say that he recognizes women are his equal? Where does he say that women are capable of leadership in the military? Where does he say he would welcome serving under one?
All this says is "I ran my mouth too much when I was younger and now that I am running for senator it has come back to haunt me. So I now state that I am more mature right now than I was when I wrote that."
This kind of double speak crap didn't work for Sanford and it shouldn't have been accepted by the press for Webb.
The fact is that what Webb did in getting this guy released is actually under the responsibility of the state department. Which just so happens to be headed up by a WOMAN right now.
Comment by Bob H — August 18, 2009 @ 9:22 am